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Katelyn Hart...again

...Katelynne Hart is perhaps the most extraordinary sophomore female athlete in the United States.

Hart, who catapulted Glenbard West to the Class 3A girls track and field team championship last spring by completing the distance Triple Crown (state cross country, 1,600 and 3,200 titles), etched a new standard in Illinois history in the 3,200 run.

The IHSA considers only all-time records set at the state meet, but Hart ran what is believed to be the second-fastest time in U.S. history Saturday morning with her time of 9 minutes, 52.02 seconds.

California native Kim Mortensen set the American high school record in 1996 with her 9:48.59.

"I was going to go into (the race) and see how I was feeling," said Hart, who also won the 1,600 in 4:51.03 before concluding her day by anchoring the Hilltoppers' 1,600 relay to another win. "My mile (split) was like 4:54, 4:55. I was like, 'I have to go for this hard.' Today I really surprised myself."

Hart has already won an indoor Nike Balance national championship in the mile this season.

"She executed the race plan nearly to perfection," Glenbard West distance coach Paul Hass said. "With about two laps to go, I said, 'Today is the day.' She went out a little faster than I would have liked. It was a special moment."

"Records are made to be broken. Glenbard West sophomore Katelynne Hart is on pace to break one.

A quick Internet search produced a 2011 Maxpreps.com article, "Ten most untouchable track and field prep records." Listed at No. 8 was Kim Mortensen's 3,200-meter time of 9 minutes, 48.59 seconds, which the California runner accomplished in 1996.

Two weeks after setting the nation's top girls outdoor 3,200 time this season of 10:02.56 at Arcadia, California, on Saturday in Glen Ellyn Hart put herself in position by running 9:52.02 at the Sue Pariseau Invitational.

As Daily Herald correspondent Kevin McGavin reported, that broke Woodstock graduate Kayla Beattie's prior Illinois-best 9:56.96 from the 2011 state finals, which still stands as the Illinois High School Association record because state records are taken only from state meets.

According to Mike Newman of ILXCTF.com, Hart ran the fastest time ever for an American girl as a sophomore, the fifth fastest American girls time ever combining 3,200-meter and 2-mile runners."